Obama likely to pick Locke as his Commerce Secretary

Washington, Feb 24 (ANI): President Barack Obama is likely to announce former Washington Governor Gary Locke as his choice for Commerce Secretary.

A senior Obama administration official said Locke was the first Chinese-American governor in the US history, Politico.com reported.

If confirmed, Locke would become the third Asian American in Obama's Cabinet, the most any administration has ever had.

Locke served two terms as Washington governor from 1997 to 2005. He declined to seek a third term, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Locke chaired the Democratic Governors' Association in 2003 and delivered a rebuttal to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address that year.

During his time in office, Washington state made top ten lists for the best governed state and won high marks for its tech-savvy government.

Locke is Obama's third choice for Commerce Secretary after New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson dropped out of consideration for the post because of an investigation into pay to play allegations surrounding the governor's office.

New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican, also dropped out only a week after being chosen by Obama, saying that he couldn't completely back the president on the economic stimulus plan and other issues.

Locke is a partner in the Seattle offices of the law firm Davis, Wright, Tremaine, where he specializes in energy and governmental relations. (ANI)